Virtual seminars for disseminating medical nutrition education curriculum ideas

There is a need and a desire for educators working toward implementation of nutrition in medical schools and residency programs to share ideas and mat erials. The World Wide Web enables computer-mediated communications through which a medical nutrition curriculum could be discussed; however, existing formats lack focus and structure. In January 1999, a virtual seminar that focused on nutrition education in medical schools and residency programs wa s conducted. The seminar, titled "Making Room for Nutrition Education," was sponsored by organizations that have active medical nutrition educators. T he seminar included 5 topics discussed over a 4-d period. The transcript wa s made available at http://www.preventivenutrition.com. There were 119 regi stered participants. Responses to a postseminar questionnaire were positive ; there was interest in an ongoing series of virtual seminars.